Alyse Zavala: Rockstar Hacker

Summary

In this episode of the Phillip Wylie Show, host Phillip Wylie speaks with Alyse Zavala, a cybersecurity professional and rock band vocalist. They discuss the importance of having hobbies outside of work, Alyse's journey from IT to offensive security, and her experiences in the music industry. Alyse shares valuable advice for aspiring penetration testers, insights into exploit development, and the challenges of balancing her dual careers. The conversation also touches on work-life balance, burnout prevention, and upcoming projects in both cybersecurity and music.

Takeaways

• It's important to have interests outside of cybersecurity.
•  Alyse's journey began in IT and evolved into offensive security.    
• Hands-on experience is crucial for aspiring penetration testers.
• Certifications like OSCP are more valuable than a degree.
• Alyse emphasizes the importance of scenario-based interview questions.
• She started a rock band to explore her passion for music.
• The band recorded with notable producers and gained significant views on their music video.
• Meditation has helped Alyse manage stress and improve focus.
• Balancing work and music is challenging but rewarding.
• Alyse is excited about upcoming projects in both cybersecurity and music.

Sound Bites

•  "It's important to disconnect for a bit."
•  "I started specializing in malware extraction."
•  "I convinced them to let us start pen testing."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Connection

06:03 Alyse's Hacker Origin Story

12:54 Career Development and Opportunities

21:00 Advice for Aspiring Pen Testers

30:00 Balancing Music and Cybersecurity Career

40:24 Work-Life Balance and Burnout Management

48:14 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Resources

https://x.com/Bellebytes

https://lylvc.com/

https://linktr.ee/lylvc